The drama in God’s throne room continues. The Worthy One now breaks the seals (1), and they unleash judgment (2-17) on the earth. From the throne a voice calls out for one wraith after another, six in all.
The fifth seal, however, breaks the pattern (9-11). Now John can see “under the altar” the souls of believers who had been slain “for the word of God” and for testifying to Jesus (9). They cry out,
“O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (10)
This is a model prayer. God is sovereign over all things. If He is not, then why pray, for salvation for others, for the world to change, for justice, for things to be made right? Prayer only makes sense if God is utterly sovereign.
Are they bloodthirsty, even in the afterlife? No; when your own blood lies on the ground, it is not bloodthirsty to want justice. But faith still reigns: they pray for God to avenge them; they do not seek it themselves. If God is sovereign, then He alone can achieve vengeance perfectly, without sin.
And the wrath does come. Even the most powerful, with all their weapons, cannot stand it (15). You must hold this image in your mind, Christian, when the powers of our age exclude, cancel and kill you. Justice will come. He will make it right.